Method for players from off-site locations to play games with  prizes being redeemable at on-site locations

ABSTRACT

A method for a game with prizes that is challenging and provides the player a tangible prize upon completion of a level of achievement. The game is played from an off-site location, such from over a computer system. If the player, upon completion of the game, has obtained a level of achievement, the player will be awarded prize redemption documents, such as a voucher, certificate or other form of prize identification. The player redeems the prize redemption document by visiting a physical location of the sponsor of the game and/or prize.

REFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATIONS

This application does not claim the benefit of any pending patent application.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

This application is not referenced in any microfiche appendix.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method to play a game with prizes. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a method for playing a game where prizes are awarded from an off-site location with the prizes being redeemable at an on-site location. Even more specifically, the present invention is directed to a method for playing a game at a remote location over a computer, communication or similar network where prizes are awarded but are redeemable only at an on-site location.

For many years a number of player competitive games including but not limited to games such as chess, bridge, poker and blackjack, have attracted players due to the lure of the challenge, risk and prizes. Prior art games include many varieties of games played and winning players awarded at, or within, the prize sponsor's physical location.

With the creation of computer and communication networks, such as the world wide web and cellular telephone networks, all types of competitive games, including games of chance and games of skill, are played over these networks. The prizes that players win are in the form of redeemable online credits, monetary units, mailed checks, credit card credits, services or physical goods that can be transferable to winning players. The redemption of these prizes does not require the player to physically enter a business's location. This has had a negative effect on businesses offering the same or similar games from physical locations in that the volume of players visiting the physical location of those businesses has been reduced due to the lack of convenience and accessibility compared to the access over these networks within a geographic marketing area.

The prior art online games have not incorporated the combination of the provisions of free play and prize redemption at a designated physical business location as a motivation for players to visit the physical location of the prize sponsor. Thus, there is a need for an online game that provides motivation to the player of the online game to visit the prize sponsor's physical location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention a method to play a game with prizes is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a method for playing a game for prizes at an off-site location with the prizes being redeemable at a designated on-site location.

For purposes of the present invention, a game is defined as any game of skill, chance or combination thereof. Examples of such games include but are not limited rummy, gin rummy, poker, bridge, pinochle, bezique, piquet, klaberjass, julepe, boure, cribbage, casino, euchre, napoleon, two hand five hundred, spoil five, ecarte, hearts, cans, seven-up, draw seven, auction pitch, blackjack, pontoon, fifteen, van john, seven and a half, ten and a half, pong, maco, chemin de fer, baccarat, skin game, horse race, eights, sharnery, sharney gin, doctor videtti, tableanette, solitaire, chess, poker, bridge, hearts, blackjack and question/answer trivia games. Further, as used herein, the term computer system is defined as an local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), campus-wide network, fixed based unit network, Intranet or Internet, a wireless communication network having multiple handheld wireless devices, satellite communication network or other similar electronics.

One aspect of the present invention includes a method of playing a game with prizes having the steps of playing the game over a computer system or hand-held devices. Access to the game can either be restricted to fee paying players or free to all players with no fee charged. Once the player finishes the game, that player's performance level is evaluated. If the player obtains a specific level of performance, the game distributes to the player a prize identification number, voucher or other means of identifications which can be redeemed for a prize located at the physical location of the game's or prize's sponsor.

The Invention will assist business operations by serving customers who are located outside of the business's physical faculties along with those customers that are located on-site.

The game can be played by a player over the computer system, between the player and the computer system, or between two or more players and/or between the computer system.

The primary object of the present invention is to create a game with prizes which improves upon the prior art games.

Another object of the present invention is to create a game with prizes which challenges the participants and reward those participants who obtain a certain level of performance.

Other objects and a further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals.

Upon reading the included description, various alternative embodiments will become obvious to those skilled in the art. These embodiments are to be considered within the scope and spirit of the subject invention, which is only limited by the claims which follow and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, a method for playing a game for prizes from an off-site location with the prizes being redeemable at an on-site location.

One embodiment of the present invention discloses a method of playing a game with prizes 10 having the steps of playing the game over an computer system 20. The game that can be played can include any game that can be played over a computer system regardless of whether the game is free to play or if a fee is charged for game play. Once the player finishes the game, that player's performance level is evaluated 30. If the player obtains a specific level of performance, the game distributes to the player a voucher having a redemption code 40. The voucher can be redeemed for a prize located at the physical location of the prize sponsor 50.

In this embodiment, the computer system is shown to be through the Internet. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that this is merely illustrative and other capable computer systems can be utilized, including local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), campus-wide network, fixed based unit network, Intranet or Internet, a satellite communication network, or a wireless communication network interacting with multiple handheld wireless devices or other similar electronics. Further, in this embodiment, the player receives a voucher having a redemption code upon obtaining a specific level of performance. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that this is merely illustrative and other capable forms of prize identification and redemption can be used.

In this embodiment, the game is shown to be played between a player and the computer system. However, one skilled in the art will recognize that this is merely illustrative and other player configurations can be utilized, including game play by a single player where the computer is passive and records the game play data, between the player and the computer system, or between the player and one or more other players and/or between the computer system.

EXAMPLE OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An example of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is set forth below. The parameters of the example are for illustrative purposes only. They are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The game to be played will be blackjack. The player is playing against a computer opponent over the Internet. Points are based on the number of wins by the player.

After the player has played ten hands of blackjack, the player has accumulated sufficient points to be awarded a prize. The prize is in the form a voucher, otherwise referred to as a certificate, for a gift card from an electronics store having many locations across the Nation. The player would need to physically enter one of these locations in order to claim the prize.

While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, such disclosures should not be regarded as any limitation of the scope of our invention. The true scope of our invention is defined in the appended claims. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims shall be construed to include both the preferred embodiment and all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A method of playing a game with prizes comprising the following steps: a. playing a game over an computer system; b. evaluating the results of said game to determine if the player obtained a specific level of performance; c. if the player obtained a specific level of performance; distributing to said player a prize redemption document, said prize provided by a sponsor; d. redeeming the voucher for said prize by visiting the physical location of said sponsor.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said computer system is selected from the group consisting of local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), campus-wide network, fixed based unit network, Intranet, Internet, satellite communication network and a wireless communication network being interactive with multiple handheld wireless devices.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said game is selected from the group consisting of rummy, gin rummy, poker, bridge, pinochle, bezique, piquet, klaberjass, julepe, boure, cribbage, casino, euchre, napoleon, two hand five hundred, spoil five, ecarte, hearts, cans, seven-up, draw seven, auction pitch, blackjack, pontoon, fifteen, van john, seven and a half, ten and a half, pong, maco, chemin de fer, baccarat, skin game, horse race, eights, sharnery, sharney gin, doctor videtti, tableanette, and solitaire.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said game is played between said player and a computer.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said game is played by a single player where the computer is passive and records the game play data.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said game is played between said player and one or more other people in communication with said computer system.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said game is played between said player, the computer system and one or more other people in communication with said computer system.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said player plays said game free of charge.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said prize is provided by sponsor of said game.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said prize redemption document is a voucher for the redemption of a prize.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said prize redemption document is a certificate for the redemption of a prize. 